NCAA South Regional breakdown

F Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico: Senior from Australia increased his scoring average from 12.6 to a Mountain West-best 20.3 points per game to go with 7.2 rebounds.

G Aaron Craft, Ohio State: Senior won his second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and is the league’s career leader with 333 steals. Only Buckeyes player to reach 1,000 points, 600 assists, 300 steals and 450 rebounds.

F C.J. Fair, Syracuse: An All-ACC and All-America year for the senior, who led the Orange in scoring (16.9 ppg) for the second consecutive season.

G Andrew Wiggins, Kansas: He leads the Jayhawks with 16.8 points per game, best among Big 12 freshmen, and averages 5.9 rebounds.

G Scottie Wilbekin, Florida: Senior point guard does more than score, earning SEC Player of the Year honors with averages of 13 points and 3.7 assists.

Arlington-bound

Florida: The Gators have much to be thankful for after Sunday’s SEC tournament title game – a reminder that Florida is indeed mortal after a 61-60 escape against Kentucky. Such a cue – that opponents are actually capable of beating them – will serve the Gators nicely moving forward in the NCAA Tournament.

Cinderella

Stephen F. Austin: SFA is much like Florida: The Lumberjacks have almost forgotten how to lose after whipping all of their Southland Conference opponents en route to a 28-game winning streak. They haven’t endured an “L” since a few days before Thanksgiving.

Second-round games

1. Florida vs. 16. Albany/Mount St. Mary’s: The Gators get to start at Orlando and could be heading to a third title under Billy Donovan.

8. Colorado vs. 9. Pittsburgh: The Buffaloes are in the Tournament for the third year in a row, and although Pitt now is in the ACC, the Panthers still play like a Big East team.

5. Virginia Commonwealth vs. 12. SFA: Shaka Smart is hard to bet against in March, but the Lumberjacks have won 28 in a row and could be this year’s Cinderella.

4. UCLA vs. 13. Tulsa: Under first-year coach Steve Alford, the Bruins upset Arizona for the Pac-12 title. Tulsa has won 11 in a row for Danny Manning.

6. Ohio St. vs. 11. Dayton: The Buckeyes got off to a 15-0 start before leveling off. The balanced Flyers are ready to get an in-state win.

3. Syracuse vs. Western Michigan: After a 25-0 start, the Orange have lost five of their last seven but should beat the Broncos.

7. New Mexico vs. 10. Stanford: The Lobos, coming off a Mountain West title, are trying to forget last year’s first-round loss to Harvard but draw a rejuvenated Stanford.

2. Kansas vs. 15. Eastern Kentucky: The big question for the Jayhawks is still the health of center Joel Embid, but Andrew Wiggins is enough to stop the Colonels.